Opportunity Information: Apply for 21 546
Enabling Discovery through GEnomics (EDGE) is a joint research grant program run by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Its core purpose is to push comparative and functional genomics forward, with a strong emphasis on moving beyond listing genes and toward explaining how genomes actually produce observable traits. In practical terms, EDGE is aimed at uncovering causal mechanisms that connect genes and phenotypes, so that researchers can better explain, and eventually predict, how genetic variation translates into biological function and complex characteristics across different organisms.
The opportunity supports two closely related types of work. First, it funds the creation of new tools, technologies, resources, and infrastructure that make genomics research more powerful and more scalable. That can include experimental platforms, computational or statistical methods, shared datasets or reference resources, and other innovations that enable the community to identify cause-and-effect links between genetic elements and phenotypic outcomes. Second, it supports functional genomics studies that directly probe the mechanistic basis of complex traits, especially when those traits depend on context. EDGE explicitly calls out that context can be environmental, developmental, social, and/or genomic, reflecting the reality that many phenotypes are shaped by interactions among genes, regulatory elements, and conditions rather than by single genes acting alone.
A central theme in the program is genomes-to-phenomes understanding: discovering the "rules" that govern how genetic information and regulation produce traits. This aligns with NSF's broader research direction under its "Understanding the Rules of Life: Predicting Phenotype" initiative (one of NSF's 10 Big Ideas), which focuses on building predictive, mechanistic models of phenotype. At the same time, the program also supports priorities associated with the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), particularly the goal of clarifying what genes and regulatory elements do and how they relate to pathways, networks, and phenotypes. While the program is not limited to human biology, the emphasis on gene and regulatory element function and on network-level relationships is directly relevant to that broader NIH mission.
From an administrative standpoint, EDGE is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 21-546) in the science and technology research and development category. The listed award ceiling is $2,000,000, and the agencies expected to make around 15 awards under this solicitation. The original closing date for submissions was March 16, 2021, and the opportunity was created on December 17, 2020. Eligibility is described as "Others" with additional clarification provided in the official eligibility text, signaling that prospective applicants need to consult the solicitation details to confirm which organizations or applicant types qualify. The CFDA numbers associated with the opportunity are 47.074 and 93.172, reflecting NSF and NIH involvement in the funding framework.
Overall, EDGE is designed for projects that either build the next generation of functional genomics capabilities or use functional genomics to explain complex traits mechanistically, ideally in ways that generalize across organisms and conditions. The program is most aligned with proposals that can show how their work will improve causal inference between genotype and phenotype, strengthen predictive understanding of traits, and contribute durable tools or knowledge that other researchers can build on.Apply for 21 546
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Enabling Discovery through GEnomics" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.074, 93.172.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 17, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 16, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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EDGE (Enabling Discovery through GEnomics) Grant Program FAQs
What is the EDGE program?
Enabling Discovery through GEnomics (EDGE) is a joint research grant program run by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The program is designed to advance comparative and functional genomics, with a strong focus on moving from gene lists to explanations of how genomes produce observable traits (phenotypes).
Which agencies run or sponsor this opportunity?
This opportunity is administered jointly by NSF and NIH. The NIH connection is specifically aligned with priorities associated with the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI).
What is the main scientific goal of EDGE?
The core goal is to uncover causal mechanisms that connect genes (and regulatory elements) to phenotypes. EDGE emphasizes genomes-to-phenomes understanding, meaning research that clarifies the "rules" by which genetic information and regulation produce traits, ideally in mechanistic and predictive ways.
What kinds of projects does EDGE fund?
EDGE supports two closely related project types: (1) creation of new tools, technologies, resources, and infrastructure that make genomics research more powerful and scalable, and (2) functional genomics studies that directly probe the mechanistic basis of complex traits, especially when traits are context-dependent.
What does EDGE mean by "tools, technologies, resources, and infrastructure"?
Examples described in the opportunity include experimental platforms, computational methods, statistical methods, shared datasets, reference resources, and other innovations that enable the research community to identify cause-and-effect links between genetic elements and phenotypic outcomes.
What does "functional genomics" mean in the context of this program?
In EDGE, functional genomics refers to studies that move beyond identifying genes and instead test how genes and regulatory elements work and how they produce phenotypes through pathways, networks, and mechanistic relationships.
What types of traits are of interest to EDGE?
The program highlights complex traits, particularly traits whose expression depends on context. EDGE is focused on traits shaped by interactions among genes, regulatory elements, and conditions rather than single-gene effects alone.
What kinds of "context" does EDGE consider important?
EDGE explicitly notes that context can be environmental, developmental, social, and/or genomic. This reflects the program's emphasis on understanding phenotypes as products of interactions among biological systems and conditions.
Is EDGE limited to human genomics or human biology?
No. The program is not limited to human biology. At the same time, its emphasis on gene and regulatory element function and network-level relationships aligns with NIH and NHGRI priorities and can be relevant to broader NIH missions.
How does EDGE relate to NSF priorities?
EDGE aligns with NSF's research direction under "Understanding the Rules of Life: Predicting Phenotype," which is part of NSF's 10 Big Ideas. That initiative emphasizes building predictive, mechanistic models of phenotype.
How does EDGE relate to NIH and NHGRI priorities?
The program supports priorities associated with NHGRI, including clarifying what genes and regulatory elements do and how they connect to pathways, networks, and phenotypes. While not limited to human systems, the program's focus is directly relevant to that broader mission area.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for EDGE?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this opportunity is 21-546.
What type of funding opportunity is EDGE?
EDGE is described as a discretionary grant opportunity in the science and technology research and development category.
What is the maximum award size (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $2,000,000.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The agencies expect to make around 15 awards under this solicitation.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on December 17, 2020.
What was the original closing date for submissions?
The original closing date for submissions was March 16, 2021.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as "Others," with additional clarification provided in the official eligibility text. Prospective applicants are expected to consult the solicitation's eligibility section to confirm which organizations or applicant types qualify.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA numbers listed are 47.074 and 93.172, reflecting NSF and NIH involvement in the funding framework.
What kinds of outcomes are most aligned with EDGE proposals?
The program is most aligned with projects that improve causal inference between genotype and phenotype, strengthen predictive understanding of traits, and produce durable tools or knowledge that other researchers can build on.
Does EDGE emphasize generalizable findings or organism-specific results?
EDGE is aimed at mechanistic understanding that can ideally generalize across organisms and conditions, particularly where projects contribute to broader "rules" linking genomes to phenomes.
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